FREE Graphics Utility - Shape Collage

Shape Collage

Version 2.1

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,77346/

This utility is single-purpose but very cool. You can use it to make some amazing graphics for cards to give people, wallpapers, displays etc.

All you do is drag and drop your photos to the application. To simplify matters, I copy mine into a new folder before I do. Then, pick a shape or a letter and press the preview button. This shows you the arrangement only. You can do things on the other tabs in the application, like put borders around photos etc.

When you've finished, click the Create button to save a file in JPEG or PNG formats.

Some Cool Ideas

• Card Front; Create a collage of pictures of your loved one and use the Heart Shape. Then save it and use it on the front of a card (or send it via email).
  
  
• Wallpaper; Choose the rectangle Adjust the photo size (and pay attention to the dimensions at the top of the status window when you refresh). When it looks about the size of normal screen resolutions, (ie: 1024 x 768), save it. You can use a proper graphics package, like the Gimp, to crop and scale it exactly. If you want to save yourself some time, consider loading a plain black or plain white photo background of the correct dimensions on the appearance tab. The application will give you an option to automatically scale it for you.
  
  Since I like Doctor Who, I've done a Doctor Who Wallpaper with all the Doctors (1-10 anyway) as a demonstration. Note: This literally took me less than five minutes to make.
  
  
  
  
• A Great Wall Hanging; Spell out someone's name one letter at a time. You can actually write whole words in the text field but it doesn't look as good. Use photos from different time zones, for example if the person's name is Fred and they're about 40, make the "F" from very old photos, make the "r" from photos aged 10-20, the "e" from photos aged 20-30 and the "d" from photos of 30-the present. Print them and cut them out and put them into a frame for them.